davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

the cock, after vainly attempting to reach
our heads with his powerful beak, settled
back upon his knees and threw his head
and neck from side to side, striking his
back a powerful blow at every move, at
the same time uttering "a low, Kissing
sound. When it becomes necessary to
enter the pen the men take a
pole about ten feet long, having acrotch
at the end, and when the huge bird
charges the crotch is fitted upon the
neck just as the throat of a boom en-
compasses a mast, and the would-be
kicker held off in this way.
The eggs are Matched by incubators and
old birds as well. In one pen was a setting
hen the nest was a shallow depression
about four feet across and nearly a foot
deep, in which were ten or twelve eggs.
The birds take turns at the labor of hatch
ing, the hen setting during the day and the
cock at night, the changes being made
about shutdown and sunrise. Rarely over
sixteen eggs are laid in the wild state,
and the process of incubation requires
forty-two days; but if the eggs are taken
from the nest as fast as they are laid a
hen will lay from twenty-five to thirty,
n being deposited every other day.
Three patches Of eggs are laid every
season by the best birds, some producing
thirty young a year. The eggs weigh
from three and a half to four pounds
and measure sixteen by eighteen inches.
The unfertile one are sold as curiosities,
bringing So 50-a good price for bad eggs.
The young birds are carefully tended by
the parents for thirty or forty days, when
they are placed in a corral by themselves
and provided with an abundance of green
food. They do not begin to pay until
they are six months old, when they are
plucked for the first time, and at intervals
of seven months ever after. The feathers
of the first plucking have little value,
but when they attain the age of two
years each feather is valued at So, and a
year and a half later the birds are in
their finest plumage. According to DR..
Sketchley, the superintendent of the
farm, the feathers depend entirely upon
the quality of the food. If the birds are
neglected their plumage is poor; if
on the contrary, they are given a large
quantity of nutritious green food, the
plumes are of the best quality. From
The keeper vaulted the fence, and the
chicks trotted off, raising their feathers
as if to catch the wind, a proceeding
which made them appear twice as large
as they really were.
In the next Enclosure were the adults
and breeding birds. A large area was
divided up into pens, each having a pair
of noble specimens of the bird the hen
kept in the background as a rule, but the
cock was always at the fence ready to
"repel boarders" at a moments notice.
These birds were extremely dangerous,
and in Africa cases have been known of
their having killed men by a single kick
and disabling a horse. Their method of
is to kick forward, the powerful
claw or nail cutting like a knife.
Rage was exhibited in a curious
way. AS we approached the Enclosure
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18
|~
"a y
: sssssa\
4

came quite at home with the motion of the
ship and the sea should be calm. In the
meantime he was to feed me up for all the
table was worth. He spoke enthusiastically
of the weather and predicted a fine passage.
In about two hours he brought me a substan-
tial breakfast, which, to my surprise, | rel
ished, and it was then that | listened to his
syren presentations to take me on deck, for
it was my plan to keep the patient at least
forty-eight hours on its back. "Well, sir,
you may not get another such day as this;
the sea is as Quiet as a mill pond" The
breakfast, too, seemed to relish with the
patient" and everything looked so bright
that | yielded and he piloted me on deck. |
had hardly looked ruund when, oh, horrors!
what is this feeling? Little rings of light
seem to be shooting from each eye. The ship
is going up and down. the steps come up, to
meet my foot, | am faint; the toward tight
ems his grip on my arm and instead OF 1eao-
ing me to my steamer chair where lie
down takes me straight to the rail, my head
tiops one side like a young baby's and l see
between the little rings of light hat nearly
blind me that awful sea; it is tWirllng round,
upand down. The patient cries out IN ag-
Ii as it yields to the sea all that was dearto
nue.. The steward says, THAT will do you
good, SIR but i can only cry out between
spasmodic gasps from the patient" Take
me back take me back ~ and as he leads me
trembling and limpI notice a look of sym
pathy from a girl in a Scotch cap, who is
walking the deck as though she were ashore.
All the rest of that day and aight lay III my
berth. It is no longer the quiet place it was;
the ''patient'' no longer submits to being
kept on its hack. ] refuse every .protfer Of
assistance, and yet that steward said it was as
as a mill pond."
Third Day.-Last night, after a dose of
bromide, the patient failed to remain quiet:
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

slowed away in my chair, the great
ocean looks so different, the bracing air
puts new life and energy into me-; | even
venture on a cigar, which tastes all right. All:
here comes theg girl with the jaunty step and
the Scotch cap. Why, she avoids my look OF
recognition; she passes and repasses; never a
look. Well, such is life. Never mind, | am
all right now, | am getting actually hungry;
could | venture to try a real English dinner
in the saloon? The steward encourages the
idea, and will find out where my
seat is at the table. The gong sounds
and before I know it I am seated at
the table, my first appearance, Presently
the seat opposite to me is occupied by a
lady-it is the girl with the Scotch cap. she
appears to be embarrassed; at least THINK
so. | proffer some triting but very tornai
table civility. for she is not alone, and she
thanks me with a voice that sounds IKE
music to my ears, and adds Il am GLAD 10
see you recovered, sir" The ice IS broken
and we are getting along at least twenty
knots when she shivers my tlmbers WIN
the explanation OF her sympathy. you
know, sir, | could not but feel sympathy 1oI
you when my poor husband was so SICK n
our room, and will not get out till we reac4
Liverpool" What need to tell the rest !
was well, and the little time that remalnea
before the end of our voyage was a scene VI
delight. Never did | eat with such JOY
everybody around me seemed to be smiling,
while the sea as it rolled by in such miaJestlc
curves was a sight that enchanted me.
How quickly [ forgot all the past, and now
OwES GILL.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

eight months. Each bird produces about
fifty long, beautiful white plumes, twenty
five from each wing, valued at from So
to SIS on the bird, so that the feathers of
a single ostrich alone in a year may rep
resent $500 or $500. The birds are plucked
i n different ways-sometimes the men
rush at them and hold them, while an
other plucks the plumes. Vicious and
wild birds are driven into a corral just
wide enough to hold them and the feath-
ers are picked through the fence.
In the large corrals the birds could be
plainly seen, and the old ones presented
a fine appearance as they trotted about as
if to show what they could do if they had
the room. Their speed and strength are
astonishing /; a large full-grown bird will
carry a mar with ease, at a rate of speed
that will make breathing somewhat diff
cult, and in running at full speed it's
stride is often twenty-five feet. The sole
defense of the bird is it's kick, which
would undoubtedly PROSTATE any animal
that would attack it but if upon the
open plain its only enemy is man, who
tires it out by persistent following on
horseback. Judging from the voice of
the bird, which we heard as we rode
away from the ostrich farm. it must be
often taken for the roar of a lion-in fact,
II | had not known that it was an ostrich
| should have said that the Grooming"
was the roaring of the king of the cats,
as the sounds are identical. At times it
resembles the fog horn of a steamer and is
SO penetrating that it can be heard for two
Or three miles. During the breeding
time these roars can be heard all night
long.
G. F. HoLpER.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

some business matters in Lon
don compelled an immediate decision, and
with many misgivings as to the consequences
l decided to make the attempt. The next
thing was to properly prepare. and this to
my thinking consisted in consultations with
any of my friends who had been abroad, as
to the most effective "alleviators' Il could
hardly hope for a cure) of the expected
trouble. Various was the advice, multitu-
dinous the remedies, discrimination was so
difficult, that l finally decided that as zone
man food was another's poison | would
take them all with me, and so with
my private stock of remedies and
alleviators I embarked on one of
the stanchest of the Cunard fleet, the
Umbria. My first duty, as We cast off, was
to find the steward, who had charge of my
room, and taking a tive-dollar note l cut it
in half. Handing him one of the halves l
said: Steward, this is my first voyage; l
feel that am going to be very sick, but as
you see" pointing to the remedies on the
sofa, II am well provided. Now you stick
to me and at the end of the voyage you shall
nave this other half of the greenback." He
smiled, looked pleased at the prospect of the
double fee and ventured a suggestion. BEG
gin your pardon, sir, if l was you I'd open
that ere port hole and heave the whole lot
out" His sturdy ignorance amused me.
What could a man who never was sea sick
know about it? I prefer to deal with this
subject in a more scientific method. AS he
left | arranged all my remedies and deter
mined to keep rough notes of what may hap
pen and then write them out at the end of
the voyage.
First Day.-We are off, and as I walk the
deck of this monster ship | wonder in adj
miration at its stability the deck feels to
the tread like a rock it must take a wave
mountains high to toss her up and down,
and they say the sea outside is as calm as
a m%ill-pond." Well, a good starter anyhow.
I am to get a good but plain meal before the
sea is reached. 1 am to abstain from all
drinks of any kind, eschew cigars, then just
before we cross the bar | retire to my room,
where [ disrobe and put a stout band around
the patient" as from motives of delicacy |
shall term that portion of the human anat-
omy when on land, at least, our food finds
a resting place. The patient submitted
quietly to this preparatory course, and taking
it to my berth with me, I carefully
kept it on its back, with the electric bell
within easy reach, so Icould instantly sum
mon my steward if needed. l fell asleep
with the sound of the waves smashing the
side of the ship, and l thought on the whole
this gentle undulation was not unpleasant,
for we-the patient and I-were right amid
ships"
Second DAY. awoke in the morning to
find the sun Frightening up my room, and
touching my bell my IS steward was quickly
at my door. I asked for a cup of coffee and a
biscuit, which l ate, and then announced
that l intended to stay where was till l be-
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18
A PARTISAN JUBILEE,
Preparing to Celebrate the Semi-Centenary
of Steam Railroads.,

VI StcdIA Nd1lTOduSs
Paris is making preparations for a special
Jubilee of her own. A few weeks hence it
will be fifty years sincet the first train steamed
out of Paris and reached the suburb of st.
German. The guard of that train is still
alive and has strange accounts to give of the
journey and of the preparations for it. It
seems to have been scarcely such a triumph
for France, after all. The engine, of course
was English, and the driver and stoker were
English, too. The engine ran on fourwheels,
and was a singular contrast to present loco
motives, but the first-class carriages were al
most of the same pattern as those still
in use on the line. The second-class
were open, furnished with curtains to
keep off the sun, and beyond the curtains
nets were stretched to prevent too curious
travellers from losing their balance and their
lives. French taste asserted itself in the de-
partments of costume and music. The
guards had a uniform of blue and gold but
tons, and were supplied with hunting horns,
Great Importance was attached to the horns.
which were to represent the comets used by
the positions of the mail coaches. For a
week before the first journey the guards care
fully rehearsed a fanfare, which was to be
played with great spirit on the departure
and just before the arrival of the train. They
have changed many things on French lines
in fifty years, and among others have SUBJ
stituted railway whistles for hunting horns.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18
A Mexican Marriage bv Proxy.

At Piedras Negras on Monday last Don
victoriano Monitor was married byproxy to
Miss Carmen Ortega. The groom was repre-
scented by his friend, Senior Epigmenio Eli
zondra, who is the alcade and also a mer-
chant of Santa Rosa. The marriage services
were duly performed in Piedras Negras and
the bridegroom was in Santa Rosa.-EagLe
Pass { Tex. Journal.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

In Turkestan every wedding ensasemehs
begins with the payment Of a substantial
consideration to the girls parents. II the
girl tits her lover the engagement gilt has
to be returned, unless the parents nave al
other daughter to give as a substitute: tfnss
plan is said to work well and results IN le"
divorces.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18
A Warning to AnimalcuIes.

Susie-George, dear, l see that one of the
city ministers wants people to stop kissing,
because there are numerous animalcules in
the mouth.
George-Yes, l noticed it, too, but people
won't stop.
Susie-No. indeed! I don't see why we
should be so solicitous about the animalcules.
Ifthey don't want to get hurt they ought to
keep away.-Pns6mrg Chronicle.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18
Religious Names of Mexican Streets.

Here are some of the names of streets in
the Mexican city of Gaudalaiara Street of
the Sacred Heart, Jesus street, Street of the
Love of God, Heart of Jesus street, John the
Baptist street, Blood of Christ street, Crown
of fThorns street, Holy Ghost street, Mother
of Christ street, Body of Christ street. Fifth
of May street and Street of the Sad Indian.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18
And 81 Great FinanCjer.

"What occupation did you say your irleiiu
followed?"
Il said he was a broker. sir
"A broker? in what?' ;.a
"Why, a broker in Jail. He's Dron Sfas JaI
oftener than any gentleman OF MS Class :
know off, Yomkers Gazette.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

ing. They were about six months old.
and had just been through their first
plucking, and did not look as attractive
Us they otherwise would.
The ostrich is me of the most comical
birds possible to imagine; its small head
and large eyes give it the appearance Of
u good-natured c~aricature, while its
swinging gait adds to its grotesqueness.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18
A True Word Spoken in jest.

Eyes. madam" said the tramp IN De''
ter DAYS I used to practice at the bar
And now" responded the lady, ~ i sqP'
pose You are satisfied to work the gr2waeff for
But the tramp considered it no scbJees ior
lest. and passed aIong.-fItsbury D'spa'e"'
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

an important industry of California
There is another phase of the business
that was an unsupported factor. This
Is the money taken in from tourists.
At first the farms were free to all, but
people or tourists have poured into
California in such numbers this last
winter that at some of the farms guides
have been employed to show people
about and large sums of money have
Deen taken in, each visitor being charged
fifty cents. I have visited all the farms
In this section, and went to Anaheim on
horseback, taking the trip across coun-
try with a small party, by far the best
way to see California. From the foot of
the Sierra Madres and back it gave us a
ride OF about sixty-ive miles, through a
most delightful region.
The site for the enterprise was a
fortunate one, being on a level stretch
OF fairly rich land about six miles
from the Pacific, comprising about 200
acres, divided up into pens Of various
sizes, n Kept as neat as a geological
GA AHO AOduo WGE6 nicely SanQeQ,
the fences newly white-washed, and
it was evident that the new industry
was starting under the most favorable
auspices; The ranch is in charge of
several Englishmen, one of whom had
for many. years been engaged in the
business in Africa, and who was en-
tnuslastlc over the prospects here. every
thing points to success" said the puide
q brown-faced young Englishman. I'VE
inc that if properly disposed $50 acres
Will DO for over 1000 birds. w have
200 acres or 80 here, and one-half of it
planted with alfalfa, the native fodder
OF tne country; upon this we rely prin-
clpally, though the birds are also given
corn, cabbage, doura, carrots. onions and
various vegetables; their daily diet is
ABOUT forty pounds of cut alfalfa per
Dlrd IN addition to the other food, while
we give them powdered sea shells by
way OF dessert." Wewalked into the ward.
-
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

Colony alone, while the value of the
industry in the Orange Free State,
Natal and the Transvaal was perhaps as
much more. Investigation showed that
the firms in these localities receive about
$1,000, 900 a year for their feathers, one
half of which was paid by Americans,
the import duty being fifty and twenty
five per cent. upon new and dressed
feathers respectively. 1t was evident at
once that feathers were the most valua-
BILE African product, next to the
diamond, and that the farmers guarded
the ostrich jealousy was shown by
the fact that the South African gov
eminent imposed an export duty of
$500 on each bird, from a chick to a
full-grown cock, and $125 on each
egg.
Notwithstanding the expense at
tending the experiment, a company was
organized and a number of birds i'm
ported at an estimated cost of 81, 200
apiece, and safely deposited at a farm at
Anaheim, Southern California. 1t had
been previously found that the climate
of Southern California was perfectly
adapted for the purpose, resembling that
of South Africa, and actual test has
shown the wisdom of the choice, as in
point of fact the birds are freer from
any trouble or sickness than ordinary
chickens, and the only ones lost so far
have been from accident or birds killing
one another. The ostrich farm commenced
operations with twenty-one birds and
uac O c,1oooor frop, +ho
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

put on clean
clothes d
new suit, eat
a light break
fast, and as |
go on deck
the steps are
real S e ps;
they do not
bob up to
meet foot:
and when l
find myself
comfort bly,
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18


The birds
were in fine
condition
they were
about four
e g t in
height, and
examine
us over the
top rail
wit h per-
feet conf
dence,pick-
ing at but
tons or any
shining OBJ
ject about
anatS cloth
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

ONE years
ago h at
tention of
capita t S
was attract
ed by the
sta t m t
$40,-
100000 were
inves t d
in t h e
os trich
fe a t er
busin S
in Cape
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18
SEA-SICKNESS.
\ VICTIM TELLS AN AMUSING
STORY OF HIS STRUGGLES.

The Resources of Science Called in and
the Attacks of the Enemy Closely OBJ
erved-Phase of the COnfiict-The Girl
in the ~cotch Cap Enjoying Life Again.
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18
OSTRICH FARMING.

A crrRrous INDUSTRY IMPORTED
FROM CAPE COLONY.
Very Long-Iegged and Long-lived Farm
Stock-How the Birds Are Cared for
A Stride of Twenty-Five Feet and a Roar
Like a Lion,s-Its Sole Defense its Kick.
copyrighted. 1871
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

was a success from the
beginning, and now sew
eral others have been es-
tablished and ostrich fea-
theirs bid fair to become
St. Landry democrat., 1887-06-18

a large Enclosure on
our left, which con-
tanned the first brood
born in a.
Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-12-17

1t Is the duty of every person who
hes used BOschee's German Syrup to
let its wonderful qualities be known to
their friends in curing Consumption,
severe Coughs, Group, Asthma, pneu-
u,on a, and in fact all throat and lung
diseases. No person can use II with
out immediate relief. Three doses
will cure any case, and We consider 1t
the duty Of all druggists TO recommend
It to the poor, dying consumptive, at
least to try one bottle, as $1,000 dozen
bottles were sold last year, and no one
case where it failed was reported.
such medicine as the German Syrup
cannot he too widely known. Ask
your druggist about ii. Sample bot
ties to Try, sold at 10 ceLts. Regular
size, 75 cents. Sold by all Druggi Il
and Dealers, in the United States and
Canada.
Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-12-17

While the emigrant passenger was
waiting at the station yesterday q
couple Of boosters who had evidently
been taking notes Of the regions they
passed stepped from the train and up to
anacclimated youth aud opened con.
versaiion. To the question "What do
the people do here for living?n they
were astounded by the answer given
In all sincerity. "Gamble.n The con-
ductor's signal put m end to what
promised to be- an interesting talk for
the strangers.
Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-12-17
They Want Mall.

Fifty families living along the route
from Miles City to Ekalaka are de.
prived Of any mail service whatever.
Petitions have been sent TO the depart
ment aud to Delegate Toole but the
route Is not yet established. Ii ID
about 100 miles from here TO Ekslaka,
the route Is q natural one and even
now well defined trail exists from
Miles City to Ekalaks. All those peo
pie In the vicinity Of the old govern
ment sawmill, Myers ranch on Pow.
der river. the head Of Locate creek,
Hsrnon's aud Ekslaks are now sbso-
lutely cut off from the outside world
aud with no conveniences for com.
municatiDg through the medium OF
the post bag. They would be satisfied
for the time being with mail once
a week aud they will not be satisfied
a. I'll they do get that.
Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-12-17
Police Magistra te's Court.

In the police magistrates court v es
terday the case Of City of Miles City
VS.. Thos. Snodgrass. charged with an
infraction of a section of Ordinance
No. 10, was called for trial at 10 a. M.
Mr.. Middleton appeared for the de.
fendant; w. III. Ross for the city. De.
fence attempted to prove that throw.
Ing lines over any stationary object
WAS q secure fastening for team under
the application Of the ordinance. Sew.
eral witnesses were examined on both
sides but preponderanoe of evidences
seemed to lay with the city. as the
Judge fined Mr.. Snodgrass IS and
costs, amounting to sll.O5, subsequent.
ly remitting court costs.
Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-12-17

or Mr.. Mast, who will appear In
Miles City on the 2oth, the New York
Times says:
The artist, like the singer, has the
opportunity Of gaming almost instant
recognition Of his genius, when that
genius Is Of high ana rare order.
People are brought face to face with
MIN, and soon form an admiring audi.
ence around him II he is worthy OF
their attention. In this way Mr.
MAST has achieved q reputation which
many men twice his age might well
envy, aud which will probably outlast
tue regulations Of most men who pro.
less TO form and direct public opinion
His drawings are stuck upon the wall,
OF the poorest dwellings. and storet
away 10 the portfolios of the wealthIe.
oonnoisseurs. A man who can anna.
powerfully to millions Of people, viii,
few strokes Of the pencil, must b
Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-12-17

Mr.. Geo. +. Cutler sends US word
that dance and musical entertain.
ment will be given at his place on
Tongue river on Cnristmss eye. After
extending cordial invitation to the
JOURNAL. Mr.. Cutter desires US to as
sure all his friends that they will be
made welcome and nothing will be lett
undone to provide enj ,yment for oil.
Country dances are quite the thing
now, aud Mr.. Cutters place is Just far
enough for pleasant drive.